Toyota is set to continue its assault with more product launches. Among them will be the addition of more hybrid-powered vehicles, which switch between petrol and electric power, in the key US market later this year, as it hopes to repeat the success of the remodelled Prius car.

Production capacity of the Prius was raised from 10,000 units a month to 15,000 units during the first half of next year to help cut waiting lists.Thanks to the popularity of that model, as well as the Sienna minivan, Toyota’s sales in the United States have risen in each of the last 14 months year-on-year, and it shipped over 1m units in the first half.

Sales for the Toyota brand at home fell slightly during the first six months, but with rivals faring worse in the sluggish Japanese market, the brand’s market share rose to 46.1%, a record high for any quarter, it said.

Toyota shares outperformed rivals during the quarter, putting on 14% to 4,420 yen (£22). That compared with a rise of 10% for Honda and 4% for Nissan.